Thin WSU D-Line Takes Another Hit

I guess the WSU defensive line was just a little too healthy, so the football gods threw down yet another injury to the Cougar front. Defensive end Lance Broadus, a senior-to-be who missed a significant portion of this spring due to a shoulder injury, had surgery Tuesday according to the Seattle Times. Broadus is potentially going to miss the first few games next year, according to Bill Doba.

Broadus is coming off an 11.5 tackle for loss season, including 7.5 sacks and an interception return for a TD vs. Stanford. While he played mostly in the shadow of Mkristo Bruce, Broadus took some big steps forward in 2006 in his first stint of extensive playing time, and was going to be a likely anchor on the defense for 2007.

So where does that leave the defensive line? We already know the defensive tackles are down a couple of starters in A'i Ahmu and Aaron Johnson, and the status for both is completely up in the air for 2007. Doba mentioned yesterday that he's optimistic on Ahmu, but now Johnson could be facing back surgery to repair a bulging disc in his back.

Doba told Glenn Kasses of the Spokesman that he was hopeful that even if Johnson has surgery, he could still be available this fall, but back surgery for guys that take a pounding in the middle of the defensive line? Let's hope he recovers quickly. Matt Mullenix, a rising player many are expecting big things out of for this year, sat out spring ball to rest his surgically repaired knee. Now add in Lance Broadus and his shoulder issue, well, that's basically an entire starting unit that is questionable for the season opener. Everyone does expect Mullenix to be ready to go for the season, and that his being held out this spring was merely a precaution, but many Cougar fans are going to be holding their collective breaths that nobody else on the defensive line goes down even before a single second of the season has occurred. At this rate, it's going to be interesting to say the least to see what this team is going to look like a month or so into the season.

Now the pressure is going to fall on backups like Mike Graise (pictured) and likely Kevin Kooyman to step up and fill in on the edge of the defense. Graise played fairly well in 2006, although hampered by a nagging leg injury, he still had 4 tackles for loss and a couple of sacks off the bench. Kooyman was very impressive as a true frosh last year, and played extensively at end and also at times defensive tackle over the last three or four games. Both players will now be front-and-center as key factors for next year's line.